expostulate
English
Etymology
First attested circa 16th century, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Latin expostulatus, past participle of expostulo ("to demand" or "to claim") from ex- + postulo ("demand").
Verb
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- (intransitive) To protest or remonstrate; to reason earnestly with a person on some impropriety of conduct.
- Jowett
- Men expostulate with erring friends; they bring accusations against enemies who have done them a wrong.
- 1719, Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe
- The tears would run plentifully down my face when I made these reflections; and sometimes I would expostulate with myself why Providence should thus completely ruin His creatures, and render them so absolutely miserable; so without help, abandoned, so entirely depressed, that it could hardly be rational to be thankful for such a life.
- 1843, Thomas Carlyle, Past and Present, book 2, ch. XI, The Abbot’s Ways
- […] he affectionately loved many persons to whom he never or hardly ever shewed a countenance of love. Once on my venturing to expostulate with him on the subject, he reminded me of Solomon: “Many sons I have; it is not fit that I should smile on them.”
- Jowett
Synonyms
Translations
to protest
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Latin
Verb
(deprecated template usage) expostulāte